The monk saki (Pithecia monachus) also known as Geoffroy's monk saki, is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey, from South America. It is found in forested areas of northwestern Brazil and northeastern Peru.[3]
| Monk saki[1] | |
|---|---|
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| Illustration by François-Louis Laporte, comte de Castelnau | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Pitheciidae |
| Genus: | Pithecia |
| Species: | P. monachus
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| Binomial name | |
| Pithecia monachus (É. Geoffroy, 1812)
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| Approximate range of the monk saki (includes P. hirsuta, P. monachus, P. inusta, and P. milleri) | |
Taxonomy edit
The hairy saki (P. hirsuta), Miller's saki (P. milleri), Napo saki (P. napensis), and burnished saki (P. inusta) were previously considered conspecific but were split from this species in 2014. P. monachus is now known to occupy a much smaller range than it was thought to before the split.[3][4]
Distribution edit
This species is found in the interfluvial between the Solimoes River, lower to middle Ucayali River and lower Javary River, in northwestern Brazil and northeastern Peru.[2]
Description edit
This monkey can grow up to be 30 to 50 centimetres (12 to 20 in) long and weigh about 1 to 2 kilograms (2 lb 3 oz to 4 lb 7 oz), approximately the same as a large rabbit. The thick, bushy tail can be up to 25 to 55 centimetres (10 to 22 in) long. It has coarse fur, which is long and shaggy around the face and neck.[5]
Behavior edit
A shy, wary animal, it is totally arboreal, living high in the trees and sometimes descending to lower levels but not to the ground. It generally moves on all fours but may sometimes walk upright on a large branch and will leap across gaps. During the day, it moves in pairs or small family groups, feeding on fruits, berries, honey, some leaves, small mammals such as mice and bats, and birds. The female gives birth to 1 young per mating season with the average family size being 4.5.[5]
References edit
- ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). "Order Primates". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 147–148. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b Marsh, L.K.; Heymann, E. W.; Moura, E.; Ravetta, A. (2018). "Pithecia monachus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T70609726A17971958. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T70609726A17971958.en. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- ^ a b Marsh, L. K. (July 2014). "A Taxonomic Revision of the Saki Monkeys, Pithecia Desmarest, 1804". Neotropical Primates. 21 (1): 1–165. doi:10.1896/044.021.0101. S2CID 86516301.
- ^ "Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ a b Poloskey, Tara (2000). "ADW: Pithecia monachus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
